Donald van der Vaart has been secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources since Jan. 1, 2015. Van der Vaart had served as DENR's deputy secretary and as the department’s energy policy adviser since August 2014. Prior to that, he worked as an engineering supervisor and later as program manager for the N.C. Division of Air Quality. He also teaches environmental policy and law at N.C. State University. His previous work includes scientific research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and at Research Triangle Institute. Van der Vaart also has experience in research and regulatory positions for energy and utility companies in the private sector. In this speech, he discusses “EPA Intrusion: The Federal Power Grab Over North Carolina’s Environment."